Capita outsourcing branded a ‘shambles’

Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has lambasted the primary care support outsourced to Capita as ‘a shambles’.

The contract – worth over £100m – was meant to see Capita provide back-office functions for GPs, dentists and opticians. Its inability to do so properly meant roughly 1,000 professionals have been delayed from working, with some losing earnings as a result.

A National Audit Office (NAO) report in May said missed and inaccurate payments had resulted in some opticians having to take out loans.

A Capita spokesperson told optician: ‘Opticians affected by payment challenges at the beginning of the year received an apology at the time for any inconvenienced caused.’